Circuit controlling apparatus



March 21, 1933. WALLE 1,902,476

CIRCUIT CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 18, 1930 24 F'i gA.

I'nventov: Ludwig S. \n/Ql le,

b MLaw/ Patented Mar. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LUDWIG S. WALLE, OF LANSDOWNE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK CIRCUIT CONTROLLING APPARATUS Application filed August 18, 1930. Serial No. 475,919.

My invention relates to circuit controlling apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for controlling the order of operation of a plurality of circuit breakers.

In the control of alternating current motor circuits for example, the use of so-called starting and running switches for connect- .ing the motor to a low potential source during the starting period thereof and for 1 switching it directly onto the line when its speed has reached a predetermined value requires that these switches be operated in a well known and definite order. During the starting operation of the motor, the starting switch is closed connecting the motor to the low potential source and the running switch is open and when the motor has increased suflieiently in speed the starting switch is opened and the running switch for connecting the motor directly to the line is closed.

It is a principal object of my invention to provide an improved circuit controlling apparatus for controlling the operation of a plurality of circuit breakers in a predeter- 2 mined order.

Q It is a further object of my invention to provide an improved motor circuit controlling apparatus for operating motor starting and running switches which shall be efiicient in o eration, simple in construction and operab l e only in a predetermined order.

In accordance with my invention, a pair of circuit breakers, as motor starting and running switches for example, are operative- 1y connected to actuating means so that a circuit controlling operation on one of said switches, as the starting switch, concurrently charges a spring or other energy 1 storing means which may be subsequently released to cause opening of the first or starting switch and closing of the second or running switch.

My invention will be more fully setforth in the following description referring to the accompanying drawing, and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a partly 50 diagrammatic view illustrating circuit controlling apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 in another circuit controlling position thereof, and Fig. 3 is a view of the apparatus in a third circuit controlling posiion.

The circuit controlling apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a pair of circuit breakers generally indicated at 1 and 2 which may for the purpose of example be throw-over as motor starting and running switches respectively, and the actuating means 3. The actuating means in the present instance is the well known flyball or centrifugal operator, and is operatively connected through the thrust transmitting structure 4 of the switches l and 2. The operation of the starting switch is eflected directly through the thrust transmitting structure by the actuating means 3. For the purpose of operating the switch 2, energy storing means, as the spring 5, is connected to the operating lever 6 of the switch 1 so as to be charged or placed under tension by the actuating means 3 during the closing or counterclockwise rotation of the lever.

Operatively related to the thrust transmitting structure 4 is the tripping means 7 which is efi'ective to cause collapse of the thrust transmitting structure and the release of energy stored in the charged spring 5 for effecting opening of the starting switch 1 and closing, in a manner hereinafter described of the running switch 2.

The thrust transmitting structure 4 comrises a bell crank 8 rotatably mounted in a xed support at 9 and connected through one arm to the centrifugal operator and through the other arm to a link 10, forming therewith an actuating toggle. The link 10 is pivotally connected at its other end to the free end of a swinging frame 11 rotatably mounted at 12 in a fixed support and comprising a mounting for the tripping means 7. Rotatably mounted on the frame 11 and co-pivotally mounted with respect to the link. 10 is a bell crank 14 having one of its arms 15 operatively connected through a link and toggle struc; ture 16 to the switch 1, and its other arm 17 operatively connected through the lost motion pin and slot connection 18-19 to the actuating lever 20 of the switch 2.

For the purpose of restraining the structure 4 in thrust transmitting position during the closing operation of switch 1, the tripping means 7 comprlses a tripplng toggle 2122 connected at one end to the arm 15 of the bell crank 14 and at its other end at 23 to the pivoted frame 11. A tripping magnet 24 having a coacting pivoted armature 25 is mounted directly on frame 11, the armature 25 being provided with the tripping lug 26 for causing buckling or collapse of the toggle 2122 when the magnet 24 is energized to attract the pivoted armature 25. Accordingly, in response to the tripping operation, the arm 15 of the bell crank 14 and the link 16 -which together form a toggle are no longer restrained in the slightly underset position illustrated in Fig. 1 so that the bell crank 14 is free to rotate counterclockwise under the influence of the spring 5 and the switch reactive forces tending to cause opening of the switch 1.

In the position illustrated in Fig. 1 the actuating means 3 is deenergized and the switches 1 and 2 are both open. The initial operation is effected by suitably energizing the actuating means 3, as by a control circuit (not shown) so that the fiyball linkage is extended under the influence of centrifugal force to straighten the actuating toggle 810 as illustrated in Fig. 2. This operation transmits thrust through the bell crank 14 and toggle linkage 16 to cause closing of the switch 1 without, however, effecting the position of the switch 2 due to the lost motion connection 1819. During this operation the bell crank 14 is swung bodily in an are about the fixed pivot 12 of the frame 11 and is restrained in thrust transmitting position by the slightly overset tripping toggle 2122. In the position illustrated in Fig. 2 the starting switch 1 is closed and the apparatus is in readiness for the next operation which requires opening of the starting switch 1 and closing of the running switch 2.

It will be noted that the pin 18 of the lost motion connection which forms the central pivot of the toggle 27 is now at the opposite end of the slot 19 so that counterclockwise rotation of the bell crank 14 will be efi'ective to cause straightening ofthe toggle 27 and consequent closing of the switch 2 while at the same time causing opening of the switch 1. To this end, the tripping magnet 24 is provided with suitable control means (not shown), as for example a push button circuit or time delay device of any well known type operatively related to the motor circuit so that the tripping magnet is energized a predetermined time after energization of the actuating means 3. The tripping toggle 2122, when actuated by the tripping lug 26 to a slightly underset position, collapses unthe switch reactive forces.

der the influence of the charged spring 5 and 14 is accordingly rotated counterclockwise about its pivot 13, which is maintained in position by the extended actuating toggle 810. As clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, the energy released from the spring 5 causes not only opening of the switch 1 but also closing of the switch 2 due to straightening of the toggle 27 by counterclockwise rotation of the bell crank 14.

For the purpose of rendering the switch operating mechanism trip-free in all positions thereof, and for tripping open either of the starting or running switches when desirable, there is provided a tripping magnet 30 actuated in any suitable manner to cause buckling and collapse of the actuating toggle 81O so that the frame 11 carrying the pivot 13 is free to swing clockwise to the position illustrated in Fig. 1, thereby causing opening of either breaker regardless of whether the apparatus is in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 or Fig. 3.

When the running switch 2 is closed as illustrated in Fig. 3, the mechanism is restored to the original position illustrated in Fig. 1 by actuating the tripping means 30 to cause buckling the actuating toggle 810. The resulting position assumed by the frame 11 causes the tripping toggle 21-22 to be stretched to its latching position and the bell crank 14 to rotate clockwise so that it is again in thrust transmitting position and in lost motion relation to the switch 2.

It shall be understood that my invention is not limited to specific details of construction and arrangement thereof herein illustrated, and that changes and modifications may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. Circuit controlling apparatus comprising a plurality of circuit breakers, actuating means including thrust transmitting structure for efiecting closing of one of said breakers, a lost-motion mechanical connection between said thrust transmitting structure and the other of said breakers. and spring means adapted to be charged by said actuating means during the said switch closing operation for causing opening of said first breaker and closing of said second breaker through said lost motion connection in response to collapse of said thrust transmitting structure.

2. Motor circuit controlling apparatus comprising a starting switch, a running switch, actuating means including thrust transmitting structure for effecting closing of the starting switch, said thrust transmitting structure having a lost motion connection with the running switch for precluding closure thereof during said operation, spring means adapted to be charged by said actu- The bell crank ating means during closure of the starting switch, and tripping means for causing c01- lapse of said thrust transmitting structure, said spring means being related to said thrust transmitting structure for causing opening of the starting switch and closing of the running switch.

3. Motor circuit controlling apparatus comprising a starting switch, a running switch, actuating means including thrust transmitting structure for effecting closing of the starting switch, electroresponsive tripping means for causing collapse of said thrust transmitting structure with respect to said starting switch, a lost motion mechanical connection interconnecting said thrust transmitting structure and said running switch, a second electroresponsive tripping means for causing collapse of said thrust transmitting structure with respect to both of said switches, and spring means charged during the closed position of said starting switch responsive to tripping of said first named tripping means for causing opening of the starting switch and closing of the running switch in a predetermined order, said second tripping means being effective to cause opening of either of said switches.

4. Circuit controlling apparatus comprising a pair of circuit breakers operable in predetermined order, actuating means including a crank for causing closing of one of said breakers, a pivoted structure with respect to which said crank is rotatably mounted, an electroresponsive tripping device mounted upon said pivoted structure for releasing said bell crank, a lost motion connection between said bell crank and the other of said breakers, and spring'means operably connected to said first breaker so as to be charged in the closed position thereof for effecting, in response to actuation of said tripping device, the release of said bell crank to cause opening of said first breaker and closing of said second breaker.

5. Circuit controlling apparatus comprising a pair of circuit breakers operable in a predetermined order, actuating means, thrust transmitting structure including a bell crank interconnecting said actuating means and 'one of said breakers, electroresponsive tripping means for restraining said bell crank in thrust transmitting position, a lost motion mechanical connection between said bell crank and the other of said breakers for precluding closing thereof concurrently with closure of the first breaker, and spring means charged by said actuating means during the closing operation of said first breaker for causing rotation of said bell crank to effect opening of said first breaker and closing of said second breaker in response to actuation of said tripping means.

6. Circuit controlling apparatus comprising a pair of circuit breakers operable in a predetermined order, actuating means for effecting closing of one of said breakers, thrust transmitting structure including a bell crank operatively connecting said actuating means and breaker, a pivoted frame with respect to which said bell crank is rotatably mounted, a tripping toggle interconnecting said thrust transmitting structure and pivoted frame, a tripping magnet mounted on said pivoted frame for causing collapse of the tripping toggle, a lost motion mechanical connection between said bell crank and the other breaker, an actuating toggle interconnecting the actuating means and pivoted frame, and spring means charged by said actuating means during the closing operation of said first breaker for effecting opening of said breaker and closing of said other breaker in response to actuation of the tripping toggle by said tripping magnet.

7 Motor circuit controlling apparatus comprising a pair of throw-over circuit breakers for transferring motor circuit connections, an energy storing device operatively related to one of said breakers and having a lost motion connection with the other of said breakers, actuating means for closing said first-named breaker and charging the energy storing device, and tripping means for releasing the energy in said device for opening said first-named breaker and closing said other breaker effecting transfer of said motor circuit connections.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of August, 1930.

LUDWIG S. WALLE. 

